Players, coaches 'hopeful' for new CBA

Players, coaches 'hopeful' for new CBA

When information about the NHLs opening collective bargaining agreement proposal was leaked last week, it raised eyebrows. The league is asking for a lot, as the NHL enters another summer of CBA uncertainty, and it would certainly be more than the NHLPA would be willing to give.
But while some are speculating the worst, that another full-season lockout could happen, the Chicago Blackhawks are hoping for the best. And as far as that first NHL proposal, it is still just July.
The reality is, it is early. But that is their proposal, Jamal Mayers said on Friday. Certainly well treat it seriously. I have all the confidence in the world in the (NHLPA) negotiating committee. Those are the guys taking time out of their summers to attend meetings and be part of the process.
The NHLPA has a bulldog in its corner in Donald Fehr, and as he said during the Chicago NHLPA meetings at the end of June, the players understand what happened last time. A bunch lived through it, and those who didnt have been told by the guys who did.
So finding the best deal is the players No. 1 concern, said Jonathan Toews, and the players have full confidence in Fehr.
We know his leadership abilities and were confident in what hes been doing for us and were going to continue to feel that way, Toews said. Everyone wants to know answers right now and its impossible to tell the future. Were confident in Don, were behind him 100 percent directing our NHLPA and well leave it at that.
Coach Joel Quenneville is also hopeful that the season is played at some point.
Im optimistic but Im realistic at the same time. Hopefully were starting in September, he said. I dont know if Im confident but Im hopeful. Thats how Ill look at it.
Its hard to fathom another full-season work stoppage for the NHL. No matter the sport and no matter what it is a stoppage, a strike, a lockout it can be debilitating. Fans flock to other sports and interests. The NHL has been enjoying record revenues for a few seasons now, but all of that could be undone if theres no hockey in 2012-13.
Yes, its way too early to say there will be no season. As first offers go, the NHLs was certainly eye-opening. Both sides, at some point, need to make it work.
We just want a fair deal, Mayers said. All the rhetoric you hear, its true: Guys want to play. They care about the game and care about the fans. We want to play but we want a fair deal. We made a lot of concessions last time and certainly we feel theres some ground that needs to be made up. Were still hopeful that it will be.

Getting to know four newly-signed Blackhawks

AP

Getting to know four newly-signed Blackhawks

The Blackhawks announced Monday that they have officially agreed to terms with forward Dominik Kahun, defensemen Lucas Carlsson and Darren Raddysh and goaltender Kevin Lankinen on entry-level contracts.

Kahun ($925,000 cap hit), Lankinen ($925,000) and Raddysh ($730,000) each signed two-year deals that run through the 2019-20 season while Carlsson's is a three-year deal that runs through the 2020-21 campaign and carries a cap hit of $792,500.

So who are these guys? Let's meet them:

Carlsson

Drafted in the fourth round (No. 110 overall) by the Blackhawks in 2016, Carlsson set a career-high with 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 44 games this season with Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League. He was tied for fourth among all blue liners with seven goals.

Carlsson, 20, doesn't have major upside, but he's a reliable, well-rounded defenseman and that's what drew the attention of Blackhawks vice president of amateur scouting Mark Kelley.

“When he’s on the ice, he makes things happen," Kelley told Scott Powers of The Athletic last summer. "I think what impressed the Sweden under-20 coach was Lucas’ ability to challenge in all three zones. He’s an active defensively. Offensively, he challenges. He keeps plays alive.”

Kahun

The 22-year-old forward spent the last four seasons with EHC München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany's top professional hockey league, where he established career highs in assists (29), points (41) and tied a personal best with 12 goals, leading Munchen to their third straight championship in 2018 after recording four goals and 10 assists in 17 playoff contests.

He raised eyebrows at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, where he compiled five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games and won 55.4 percent of his faceoffs (41 of 74), helping Germany capture a silver medal.

“He has made an enormous step this year, has become much more stable and mature," German national team coach Marco Sturm said after the Olympics. "I am sure that he would grab it in the NHL,” Sturm told the Hamburger Morgenpost.

Most recently, Kahun had a goal and two assists in seven games for Germany during the IIHF Men's World Championship. He's 5-foot-11, 176 pounds whose known to be a solid two-way player and can play center but may need some time to adjust to the smaller ice surface and NHL style of speed and physicality.

Lankinen is 23 years old and coming off a season in which he was in the discussion for the Urpo Ylönen trophy, annually awarded to the top goaltender of the Finnish Elite League, after registering a league-best 1.33 goals against average and .946 save percentage in 15 games with HIFK.

He missed a large portion of the season because of an injury, but it didn't stop him from turning in a strong postseason, guiding his team to a bronze medal after posting a 1.99 GAA and .936 save percentage in 13 playoff games. The year before that, he led the league with seven shutouts in 42 games, backstopping his team to a silver medal.

This is a low-risk, medium-sized reward signing for the Blackhawks, who could use some more young goaltending depth in the pipeline, especially given how this season unfolded with the big club.

Raddysh, 22, accumulated 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 66 regular-season games with the IceHogs, and has appeared in each of the team's playoff games en route to the Western Conference Final.

Last season Raddysh was named the OHL's top defenseman after scoring 16 goals and 65 assists for 81 points in 62 games for the Erie Otters, where he was teammates with current Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat. He's the Otters' all-time leader in assists (143) and points (184) among defensemen.

Raddysh might be nothing more than a depth defenseman, but his development is worth monitoring because the offensive production is there and that's something the Blackhawks lacked this past season from their back end.

"I will not play hockey anymore," said Hossa, who missed the entire 2017-18 campaign due to a progressive skin disorder and the side effects of the medications involved to treat it. "I have a valid contract with Chicago for the next three years, but I have only one health and it does not allow me to return."

Because he has three years left on a deal that carries a $5.275 million cap hit, Hossa is not expected to sign his retirement papers until the contract is completed or else it would result in salary cap consequences.

The news is not surprising, but it officially allows the Blackhawks to move on without him in the fold roster-wise and toy around with some options this summer.

The first is stashing his contract on long-term injured reserve, as they did last season when they utilized the in-season preference.

The second, which Hossa wondered could happen, is finding a trade partner that would absorb the remainder of his contract, usually done by lower payroll teams aiming to reach the cap floor.

And it wouldn't be difficult trying to find a buyer, considering Hossa's actual salary is $1 million per year over the next three seasons. Hossa, of course, has a no movement clause but it's likely he would waive it given his status at this point.

The good news for Chicago is, the three-time Stanley Cup winner didn't rule out joining the Blackhawks organization in some capacity after his contract expires in 2020-21, whether it's in a front office role or as a team ambassador.

In 19 NHL seasons, Hossa accumulated 525 goals and 609 assists for 1,134 points in 1,309 regular-season games, and added 149 points (52 goals, 97 assists) in 205 postseason contests. He's one of 45 players in league history to net at least 500 goals in his career.